Australomimetus species
Pirate Spiders Identification in Australia
Small spider-hunting mimetids that may enter another spider’s web. Rows of distinctive leg spines are a useful close-up clue.
Usually low risk; avoid handlingAbout Pirate spiders
Australomimetus are pirate spiders in Mimetidae. They hunt other spiders and can visit a prey spider’s web rather than constructing a capture web of their own. A spider standing on silk is therefore not necessarily the spider that built it. Field observations also place them on foliage and in sheltered plant or litter settings.
Look for relatively long front legs with a repeated arrangement of spine-like hairs: a longer spine followed by shorter ones. The pattern needs a clear close-up and should be assessed with the whole body. Colour and a rounded abdomen can overlap with small orb-weavers and comb-footed spiders. This guide covers Australomimetus species collectively because the photographed animals in field collections are often only tentatively identified. Do not place spiders together to test hunting behaviour. Photograph natural behaviour, the legs and the surrounding silk without touching either animal.
Identification limit: this guide is a comparison aid. A name match in the identifier does not establish a species record.
Compare similar spiders
Sources and further reading
- Australian spider specialists: Mimetidae identification
- Australomimetus field observations and revision reference
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Small spider with relatively long front legs
- Repeated long-and-short leg-spine pattern
- May occupy another spider’s web
- A hunting observation is more useful than colour alone
What to check next
Photograph the whole spider and its surroundings without disturbing it. Use the clues together; a close match is not a confirmed species identification.
When to seek medical help
For a suspected bite, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Call 000 for breathing difficulty, collapse or other severe symptoms. Do not wait for an online identification.
Where it is usually seen
Foliage and sheltered outdoor habitats across Australia, sometimes in the web of another spider. The particular species determines the detailed range.